Josh Kline's 'Project for a New American Century' at Whitney Museum presents bleak future visions

At the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, Josh Kline's exhibition titled 'Project for a New American Century' will be on display until August 23. This showcase features a diverse collection of his work spanning over ten years, including videos, sculptures, and new-media installations. The exhibition's name alludes to a neoconservative think tank backed by Dick Cheney. Kline’s art captures the unsettling atmosphere of contemporary American society, highlighted by a 2022 poll revealing that over 40% of Americans foresee a potential civil war within the next ten years. Among his notable pieces are the 'Civil War' series (2016–17), 'Contagious Unemployment' (2016), and militarized Teletubbies from 2015. Themes of class, automation, and surveillance permeate the exhibition. Recently, the Whitney concluded a 16-month negotiation with its union.